Forgotten Trades: Keegan Kolesar

Now a Stanley Cup Champion, Keegan Kolesar was once a Blue Jackets prospect who was traded for a draft pick, which became one of their current players.

There have been many faces and names that have passed through the halls of Nationwide Arena since the Columbus Blue Jackets joined the NHL for the 2000-01 season. A few are widely remembered, while many have been lost to time or have gone on to make their name with another organization. Today, we’ll talk about someone who fits the latter category and another who has made an impact on the organization in his short career.

Trading Keegan Kolesar

During his time as a Blue Jackets prospect, Keegan Kolesar wasn’t expected to be a star, but fans were excited about him. His mix of size and skill made it seem like he could be a solid power forward, which ended up being the case in the long run, it just wouldn’t be with the Blue Jackets. He never played with them at the NHL level, and never even played a professional game in the organization. He was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, right before he was to make the jump to the professional level. At the time, it seemed like the Blue Jackets were coming out on top. Trading a former third-round draft pick for a second-round pick, when they lacked a pick in the first, second, and third rounds entering the draft. Adding a pick in one of those rounds was one of management’s top goals entering the event, but some may argue it was a big mistake in the long run.

Keegan Kolesar, Vegas Golden Knights (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

That pick ended up being Alex Texier, who is still on the roster today. While he’s become a fine player, he doesn’t help the team create an identity. He may produce more offensively, but Kolesar’s physicality in the bottom six could’ve been more beneficial for the organization in the long run.